Netflix’s recent hit was ‘Sakamoto Days’, which was popular in 54 countries|@NetflixAnime|X
Anime, once a niche genre for Asian audiences, has become a global phenomenon. Netflix recently revealed that over 150 million households—roughly half its user base—now watch anime shows and films on the platform.
Viewership has tripled over the past five years, prompting Netflix to unveil a wave of new titles and teasers at the recent Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Highlights include Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and My Melody & Kuromi.
Netflix’s recent hit Sakamoto Days gained popularity in 54 countries, while Cyberpunk: Edgerunners continues to attract a massive cosplay fanbase.
In 2024 alone, anime content racked up over 1 billion views on Netflix. About 80–90% of viewers prefer dubbed versions, and the platform is now offering dubs in up to 33 languages to meet growing demand.
The anime obsession has reached the US, too
One in three US consumers now watches anime weekly, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge (50% weekly viewership), according to a new Dentsu study.
After surveying 8,600 consumers across 10 countries, it also found that 48% of global anime viewers subscribe to Netflix specifically for anime, making it the top platform of choice.
Disney+ (32%) and Prime Video (29%) follow. Hulu and YouTube TV are gaining traction in specific regions, while the original anime-focused OTT, Crunchyroll, ranks last in viewership.